Loki loped across the barren land, his strides seemingly unhurried though internally he was seething from how long it was taking. He'd been caught up, sick as a figurative dog, for several days now and was far, far behind when he'd intended to be here. Had the pups been born? Were they ok? Had she killed them as she had offered to do? Would she even be there at all?
His footfalls stilled completely when he caught her scent, the milky scent of newborn pups, an unknown young male... and Hati. Loki's silky fur bristled automatically in alarm. What business would Hati have with Loki's pups? Were they in danger from him? Or this young male? Some love interest of hers, maybe, who would kill the pups to eliminate any rival for her affections? Did she even have affections?
He bounded forward, cresting a hill and charging down it, sliding to a bristling, narrow-eyed stop in front of her and the two males. Feigning nonchalance despite his abrupt entrance, he forced his fur smooth. "Fancy seeing you here, brother. And stinking of a pack, too. Not quite your style, is it?" he sneered before his gaze flashed over to Daegmar and then on to the young male. "And you are?"
